Police Chief’s Wife Pleads Not Guilty

Police Chief’s Wife Pleads Not Guilty

AVON, Ohio– The wife of North Ridgeville Police Chief Mike Freeman entered a not guilty plea in court Tuesday.

Police in Avon say 41-year-old Elaine Freeman is accused of shoplifting food and other personal items from Target at the Avon Commons on Detroit Road, November 19. She was with her 2-year-old son at the time.

She is out of jail on a $1,000 bond. Her next court date is set for December 18.

At the time of the arrest, Avon police told Fox 8 that Chief Freeman was upset when he arrived at the station to get his wife.

His wife was handcuffed and Avon officials say when Freeman arrived, he was upset that his wife and child were in booking.

Avon Mayor Jim Smith says he has discussed the matter with his police chief and he doesn’t believe his officers did anything wrong.

“I think it was the heat of the moment and I think there was a little aggravation,” Smith said. “It escalated and we wouldn’t be here if it didn’t escalate to that point.”

North Ridgeville Mayor Dave Gillock says he found that the chief did violate the department’s policies and procedures. The chief was given a written reprimand and encouraged to get anger management counseling. The chief also told the mayor he was planning to talk to the Avon police chief to make sure the two will continue to have a good professional relationship.

On November 21, Chief Freeman told Fox 8 he is not upset that police arrested his wife. He says he was concerned with how she and his son were treated. He also says he’s going to do what needs to be done to right the situation and grow from the experience.

Gillock says Freeman has been an excellent police officer who has provided great service to the community.

Freeman says he loves his wife and they will work through this together.